OT Tools to Increase Chore Independence at Home

Occupational Therapy Tools to Build Independence in Little Children While Completing Chores at Home

Why Should I Have Little Kids Help do Chores, It Doesn’t Even Help?!

Yes, you’re right. Having little children help do chores makes the job a little harder, not easier….at first. At the beginning, having your little one assist you can make the task take twice as long. But, at some point, it does get easier, and their skill set does improve. When children are young, they WANT to help. They see what you are doing, and they want to do it too. They enjoy cleaning up spills, and wiping windows, and mixing ingredients. So, what if we found ways to work with them, and not fight it so much? Honestly, from what I have learned as a pediatric Occupational Therapist and a mother of 4 young children, it is always easier to just find a way to let them help.

5 Benefits of Teaching Children Chores

1. It Occupies their Time. As a stay-at-home-mom, I am always looking for activities to help time pass in an intentional way. Time FLIES when children are engaged in a meaningful task, especially when they know it is helping mommy.
2. Fosters Responsibility and Work Ethic. My three year old knows that she needs to put away her own laundry in her dresser. She knows that because we have worked on this skill for almost a year. At first I would do it have her watch, then we would do it together, and now she can do it by herself. She knows that this is her job, as a member of the family.
3. Develops Skill. The more you let children help, the better they get at it. That is plain and simple. If you hand a broom to a 7 year old and asked them to sweep the floor, but they have never held a broom in their life, they aren’t going to sweep very well. But, imagine a 7 year old who has been sweeping since they were 4? It wasn’t perfect at 4, but at age 5 it got a little better, and by age 6 is was actually helpful, and now at 7 years old they sweep like a pro. They aren’t going to learn unless you give them the change to practice.
4. Builds Teamwork. Our children know that when it is time to clean up, everyone helps. Many hands make light work. As soon as a child can walk (really before then), they can clean. Cleaning up their toys, wiping spills, and cleaning off a table are all things even the youngest of helpers can do. It eventually becomes part of your family identity.
5. Gives a Feeling of Accomplishment. When children finish a chore, something pretty amazing happens. They are proud of what they just did. They are proud of their hard work. Our kids helped make a salad the other night, and couldn’t wait to tell Daddy when he got home. They were excited to watch him eat, knowing that they were the ones who had prepared it. That right there, that’s hard to beat.

Tools to Encourage Helping

Children really do well with real tools. Sometimes they just need adapted tools to make it easier or safer for them to use in order to accomplish a task. Here are some of my personal favorites:

• Knife Set We have a similar set and use it DAILY. Our kids now cut up their own snacks, like cucumbers, and carrots.
• Melissa and Doug Cleaning Set It is called a pretend cleaning set, but, it definitely is real life usable.
• Easy Sweepers Do you remember using one of these when you were young? I do! These are very easy for children to help clean the floor.
• Dyson Vacuums If you are in the market for a new vacuum, get a Dyson. We have one and the kids are easily able to help vacuum. I am able to adjust the length, so even our 22 month old can help vacuum.
• Swedish Dishcloths These are great for any spills, or wiping down tables. And when you are done, just throw them in the washing machine!
• Mixing Bowls with Silicone Bottoms Having bowls with silicone bottoms is genius. When children mix, it is hard for them to keep the bowl in one spot, so the silicone helps with that.

What else would you add that has helped your children be more helpful around the house? Let me know in the comments!